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Title 42, The Public Health and WelfareRelease 119-110

§1996b Interethnic Adoption

Title 42 › CHAPTER 21 — CIVIL RIGHTS › SUBCHAPTER I — GENERALLY › § 1996b

Last updated Sep 22, 2026|Official source

Summary

People or government agencies that place children for adoption or foster care must not refuse someone the chance to adopt or foster, or delay placing a child, because of the race, color, or national origin of the parent or the child. Violating this rule is treated as a breach of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. This does not change how the Indian Child Welfare Act of 1978 applies.

Full Legal Text

Title 42, §1996b

The Public Health and Welfare, Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(1)Prohibited conduct
A person or government that is involved in adoption or foster care placements may not—
(A)deny to any individual the opportunity to become an adoptive or a foster parent, on the basis of the race, color, or national origin of the individual, or of the child, involved; or
(B)delay or deny the placement of a child for adoption or into foster care, on the basis of the race, color, or national origin of the adoptive or foster parent, or the child, involved.
(2)Enforcement
Noncompliance with paragraph (1) is deemed a violation of title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 [42 U.S.C. 2000d et seq.].
(3)No effect on the Indian Child Welfare Act of 1978
This subsection shall not be construed to affect the application of the Indian Child Welfare Act of 1978 [25 U.S.C. 1901 et seq.].

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

References in Text

The Civil Rights Act of 1964, referred to in par. (2), is Pub. L. 88–352, July 2, 1964, 78 Stat. 241. Title VI of the Act is classified generally to subchapter V (§ 2000d et seq.) of this chapter. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see

Short Title

note set out under section 2000a of this title and Tables. The Indian Child Welfare Act of 1978, referred to in par. (3), is Pub. L. 95–608, Nov. 8, 1978, 92 Stat. 3069, which is classified principally to chapter 21 (§ 1901 et seq.) of Title 25, Indians. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see

Short Title

note set out under section 1901 of Title 25 and Tables.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

42 U.S.C. § 1996b

Title 42, The Public Health and Welfare

Last Updated

Sep 22, 2026

Release point: 119-110